Experts: COVID-19
Quebec is extending emergency measures for three regions as the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to gain steam in the province. Premier François Legault announced the move Tuesday, saying schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed in the Quebec City, Outaouais and Chaudière-Appalaches areas until April 25. Legault went on to say that “with the variant, no area is immune” but the province will not tighten restrictions in Montreal and the surrounding areas.
Expert: Proposed extension of RAMQ to undocumented children criticized
Bill 83, which aims to extend Quebec health insurance coverage (RAMQ) to children born here to migrant parents who have a precarious status, does not pass the test, according to several organizations that care for the rights of young children.
Expert: Supreme Court’s carbon tax decision
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled the federal Liberal government's carbon pricing regime is constitutional — a major decision that allows Ottawa to push ahead with its ambitious plan to ensure every province and territory has a price on carbon to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Expert: Canada ranks 15th in latest World Happiness Report
While happiness may have felt far off as the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the globe, the latest World Happiness Report (WHR) has ranked Canadians in 15th place, slipping down from the 10th position the previous year. The report is released annually by a team of independent researchers and weighs six variables: income, freedom, trust in government, healthy life expectancy, social support, and generosity.
Expert: Rogers and Shaw merge in $26 billion transaction
Rogers Communications Inc. has struck a deal to acquire Shaw Communications Inc., a takeover that will reshape the country’s telecom landscape provided it receives regulatory approval. The purchase of the Calgary-based telecommunications company would give Rogers a bigger national footprint with deeper access to the West and a national wireline network, according to analysts assessing the transaction, while Rogers itself touted the potential for $1 billion in synergies.
Experts: International Women's Day | March 8
This year, the theme for the International Women’s Day, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all.
Experts: Mars 2020’s Perseverance landing in Jezero Crater
NASA’s science rover Perseverance, the most advanced astrobiology laboratory ever sent to another world, streaked through the Martian atmosphere on Thursday, February 18 and landed safely on the floor of a vast crater, its first stop on a search for traces of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet. (National Post)
Expert: Millions of Texans are still without power as winter storms continue
A rare deep freeze in Texas that raised demand for power forced the U.S. state's electric grid operator on Monday to impose rotating blackouts that left nearly three million customers without electricity. The cold snap sweeping Texas reached the northern part of neighboring Mexico as well, where authorities said 4.7 million users lost power early on Monday, February 15. (CBC News)
Experts: Federal government approves Air Canada purchase of Transat A.T. Inc.
The federal government has approved Air Canada's purchase of competing airline Transat A.T. Inc. under a series of strict terms and conditions the government says "are in the interest of Canadians." A statement released by the transport minister's office said the impact of COVID-19 was a key factor in the final decision to approve the purchase. (CBC News)
Experts: Black History Month | February 2021
During Black History Month, Canadians celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous nation it is today. (Government of Canada)
Here are some experts from McGill University that can provide comment on this issue:
Expert: Military forces stages coup in Myanmar
Myanmar’s military staged a coup Monday and detained senior politicians including state counsellor and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi — a sharp reversal of the significant, if uneven, progress toward democracy the Southeast Asian nation has made following five decades of military rule. (
Experts: Julie Payette stepping down as governor general
Governor General Julie Payette and her secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, are resigning after an outside workplace review of Rideau Hall found that the pair presided over a toxic work environment. Last year, an independent consulting firm was hired by the Privy Council Office to review reports that Payette was responsible for workplace harassment at Rideau Hall. (CBC News)
Experts: International Day of Education | January 24
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. The theme of the 3rd International Day of Education is ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’. Now is the time to power education by stepping up collaboration and international solidarity to place education and lifelong learning at the center of the recovery.
Experts: United States set to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement
U.S. President Joe Biden returned the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming in one of his first official acts Wednesday and immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts that would transform how Americans drive and get their power. Biden signed an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge.
Experts: Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday under a pledge to "heal" the country as it grapples with an ongoing pandemic, economic uncertainty and deep political divisions. Extra security measures will be in place following the violence that erupted at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 as rioters sought to stop Congress from certifying the president-elect's win over Donald Trump.
